“Sanju Samson willing to move down the order if needed,” says mentor Raiphi Gomez

Since India announced its Asia Cup 2025 squad, attention has turned to Sanju Samson’s role in the T20I setup.

The inclusion of Shubman Gill as vice-captain has sparked debates over who will open the innings during the tournament. Samson’s mentor, Raiphi Gomez, however, remains confident in the wicketkeeper-batter’s adaptability. He emphasized that Samson can adjust to different batting positions if required.

“Being a professional and internationally established player, Sanju is flexible enough to make adjustments if he has to bat down the order. His flexibility guides him, and he is very confident about his abilities,” said Gomez, former Kerala and Pondicherry all-rounder.

Despite speculation fueled by Samson’s regular place in India’s T20I squad under Gautam Gambhir, Gomez stressed that external chatter does not affect Samson’s mindset.

“Has Sanju said anything about being under pressure? No. It’s all outside noise. Our focus is on making sure Sanju keeps improving with the bat. He is only concerned about the job he needs to do for India,” Gomez added.

Fitness and Form Update

Concerns had arisen after Samson’s struggles against England’s pace in the T20I series at home, alongside a lack of rhythm during the IPL due to injuries. Gomez assured that those issues are behind Samson. The batter has worked extensively at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence to regain fitness and refine his game.

“What happened in the England T20Is is part of the game, which every cricketer goes through. After the IPL injury, he spent necessary time at the Centre of Excellence to regain fitness. Now, he is well-placed rhythm-wise, playing in these KCL matches,” Gomez concluded.

Samson’s versatility and renewed form make him a valuable asset as India heads into the Asia Cup 2025, capable of adjusting his batting role according to team requirements.